AMID complaints over a lack of information, council officers will be on hand to answer questions about the regeneration of Hexham Market Place.

A drop-in session about the future of the town’s Market Place has been added to the consultation process at the Queen’s Hall on Saturday, February 23, between 10am and 3pm.

Northumberland County Council and Hexham Town Council are currently seeking the views of people about what changes they would like to see in the area, and a public vote will run until March 3.

The consultation was originally planned for six weeks, but was extended by two weeks following concerns from local people that more information on the two main options – one for partial pedestrianisation and the other for an enhanced streets option retaining some parking provision – needed to be provided. A third option of neither was also available for selection and was a preferred choice for a lot of traders operating in the town.

To address the perceived lack of information, council officers will field any questions about the consultation next weekend.

Trevor Cessford, county councillor for Hexham Central with Acomb, said: “We want to encourage as many people as possible to get involved and have their say, no matter what that may be.

“While we want the Market Place to be revitalised, we also want the people of Hexham to play a full part in what the end result looks like.

“The aim is to take this opportunity to make the most of this beautiful, historic setting so that more people are attracted into the town centre to shop, visit and socialise and we think it is very important that the people of Hexham feel a degree of ownership with the proposed new development.

“With out-of-town and online shopping, now is the time to try to invest in the infrastructure at the heart of our town.”

As well as the drop-in session, the councils have arranged for 7,000 flyers informing people of ways they can vote to be distributed across the town this week.

People can have their say by visiting the library in the Queen’s Hall or electronically at www.hexhammarketplace.stickyworld.com.

Plans to regenerate the Market Place will complement a ban of lorries and coaches from using the nearby Hallstile Bank.

From Tuesday, a length restriction will be implemented on the exit route. A new road sign directing coaches down Market Street has been installed in the Market Place.